Wonderful Weekend for Castlebar Mitchels Hurlers
Last weekend proved to be a wonderful weekend for the Castlebar Mitchels hurlers with the under 16 team winning the County League Final in a tough game against Tooreen, while the under 14s qualified for Féile, in Kilkenny, for their third year in a row.

Under 16s win  League Final

Castlebar Mitchels  1-12
Tooreen    0-10

The under 16 county league final, played in Balla on Sunday evening, turned out to be a tight and entertaining game between the top two teams in the county. Though they won by five points in the end this game was in the melting pot up to the end.

Kieran Charlton opened the scoring for Tooreen in the first minute but shortly after Michael Clune equalised from a 65. Michael Morley for Tooreen and Michael Clune for Mitchels swapped points again before Philip Redmond got, what turned out to be the crucial score of the game, a goal for the Mitchels. Some great defence by Mitchels players Colm Morris, Danny Mulvihill and Alan Gavin were keeping them in the game, while the half back line of Damien Togher, Christy Walsh and Marty Gallagher were the springboard of many of their attacks. James Lowe and Darren McTigue were keeping the ball moving in midfield while Luke McGrath and Liam Williams were foraging hard inside to help set up the scores. Clune and Morley again over the last 15 minutes swapped 3 points each to leave the half-time score at 1-5 to 0-5 for Mitchels.

A tactical switch at half time saw the introduction of Darragh Cuddy and a number of positional changes in the Mitchels team. At the start of the half two points from Clune and one from Morley left Mitchels four points up after 10 minutes. Then Tooreen hit a purple patch with three great scores from play, two from Morley and one from Charlton to leave just one point between the teams. Just when it looked like Tooreen were going to take over Stephen Fitzgerald, who had moved to midfield, got a wonderful point from long distance. Fergal Durcan, who worked so hard all through the game, Fitzgerald and Darren McTigue began now to take over around the middle of the field, while inside substitute Darragh Cuddy was threatening. Mitchels now began to hit their purple patch and two great points from Cuddy and a 65 from Clune sent them 5 points clear.

Tooreen were by no means finished though and when Charlton raced clear it looked like a goal was on, but a wonderful save by John Cotter proved to be the clinching of the contest. Cotter who had been steady all day had to go full length to tip the ball on to the post and Alan Gavin, who had a wonderful second half cleared the ball to safety. Michael Morley did pull another point back for Tooreen but Clune cancelled it out with a point from a free, after a foul on substitute Vincent O’Brien, and Mitchels held on to win the cup.
Afterwards, Luke Fitzmaurice, chairman of the hurling board, congratulated both teams on a fine sporting game of good standard. He also thanked the mentors, supporters, referee Gerry Kilbride and the Balla club for providing the pitch and facilities. 

It was lovely to see a great crowd of supporters and parents present and the club would wish to thank and say well done to their coaches Michael Clune, Keith Staunton and Ger Whyte for their great work with the under 16s.
Team; J. Cotter, C. Morris, D. Mulvihill, A. Gavin, D. Togher, C. Walsh, M. Gallagher, J. Lowe, D. McTigue, F. Durcan, S. Fitzgerald, P. Redmond, M. Clune, L. Williams, L. McGrath, D. Cuddy, V. O’Brien, C. Killion, P. Condon, J. Welby, D. McHale, R. Singh.

Under 14s

Castlebar Mitchels 5-6
Belmullet   1-1

Castlebar Mitchels U-14 hurlers qualified for the county final of Feile with an impressive win over Belmullet at Bangor on Saturday. With the benefit of a stiff breeze Castlebar pressed from the outset against a physically strong Belmullet team. They found scores hard to come by despite having most of the play. Eventually a Ryan Mc Guire point opened the scoring followed shortly afterwards by 2 long range goals from Nicholas Quinn. Further points by Quinn & Eoin Lisibach and a goal from Ryan Mc Guire opened a sizeable gap. Two further points by Nicholas Quinn left the half time score 3-5 to 0-0.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Belmullet began to exert more pressure, but a breakaway goal from Jamie Redmond opened the gap further. Belmullet notched a goal and a point to threaten a comeback but a Mc Guire point and a late goal from Conor Mylett left Mitchels comfortable enough winners at the end.

Barry Lane looked very assured in goals for Mitchels with Joseph Redmond, Darragh O’Malley & Colman Munnelly impressive in defence. Shane Irwin and Nicholas Quinn dominated at midfield while Ryan Mc Guire, Jamie Redmond & Eoin Lisibach were the pick of the attack. Mitchels now meet Tooreen in the County Feile Final next weekend

Castlebar Mitchels: Barry Lane, Declan Howley, Joseph Redmond, Laurence Kenchington, Colman Munnelly, Darragh O’Malley, Bernard Kennedy, Nicholas Quinn, Shane Irwin, Shane Queenan, Eoin Lisibach, Tony Sweeney, Nathan O’Malley, Ryan Mc Guire, Jamie Redmond.

Subs: David Bell, Diarmuid Finnan, Eric Gavin, Cian Gavin, Kevin Keena, Sean King, Daniel Loughran, Conor Mylett, Art O’Suilleabhain, Thomas Quinn-Bailie, Feidhlim Ralph, Aaron Singh, Darragh Singh, Cathal Walsh, Gregory Robinson

Under 14 Hurling Championship, Section B, Round 1 Fri 04 May at 7:00
Castlebar B v Ballyvary, Ref: J. McGrath in Castlebar

Training
There is training on Wed evening for under 8, 10, 12s at An Sportlann at 6pm.
Under 14s  Monday & Wed from 6pm to 7.30pm in Davitt College and on Sunday mornings 11.30am to 1pm
Under 16s Monday & Wed at 6pm at An Sportlann
Seniors and under 21s Mon, Wed and Friday at 7.30pm at An Sportlann.

Camogie
Interested in playing Camogie for Castlebar Mitchels.
Underage Camogie training on Tuesdays & Thursdays 5.30pm to 7pm in Davitt College.

Contact People
Under 8 Fr. Michael Murphy  0857345167
Under 10 Conal O’Domhnaill 0876877489
Under 12 Barry Murphy  0868318748
Under 14 Gerry Lane  0878278705
Under 16 Michael Clune  0879685577
Under 18 Darren Greaney 0872671369
Senior  Fr. Michael Murphy  0857345167
Club Coach Ger White  0863520671
Chairperson  Tony Stakelum  086 8586842